And/But: Gibbs’ Talmudic statement says “because Republicans have made it clear that they won’t pass a middle class extension without also extending tax cuts for the wealthy, the President has asked Director Lew and Secretary Geithner to work with Congress to find a way forward.”

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

December 2, 2010

Statement by the Press Secretary on Middle Class Tax Cuts

“The President continues to believe that extending middle class tax cuts is the most important thing we can do for our economy right now and he applauds the House for passing a permanent extension. But, because Republicans have made it clear that they won’t pass a middle class extension without also extending tax cuts for the wealthy, the President has asked Director Lew and Secretary Geithner to work with Congress to find a way forward. Those discussions started just yesterday and are continuing this afternoon. The talks are ongoing and productive, but any reports that we are near a deal in the tax cuts negotiations are inaccurate and premature.”

The election was a month ago; nothing Democrats have done since then has strengthened their hand in the tax/spending wars. Voting to extend tax cuts only for the first $250k in family income and throwing around the words “millionaire” and “billionaire” still makes no sense. Republicans’ mantra about "this is no time to raise taxes on anyone" should be EASILY demolished by the White House and Nancy Pelosi; Democrats should be asking themselves why they haven’t been able to win that rhetorical fight.